Hillary has been pro-Patriot Act; Bernie has been anti-Patriot Act

[TheDormouse]

In the Senate, Hillary voted for the original Patriot Act in 2001, and again for its reauthorization in 2005.

Bernie, serving in the House at the time, voted against it both times. He also voted against its extension in 2011, when he was in the Senate. (Hillary by that time was Secretary of State.)


Does knowing this affect how you feel about them as candidates for president?

[farleftlib]

1. There was nothing more UNpatriotic than the PATRIOT Act

It should never have passed in the first place, but there was immense pressure for it in 2001. No such pressure existed in the years afterward. It is a mark of cowardice to have voted for it multiple times.

[Xipe Totec]

6. +1 nt

[djean111]

2. Even were the votes reversed, that would not cancel out, for me, Hillary's negative or Bernie's

positives.

I get the feeling that some here consider that Bernie's supporters are single-issue supporters - and that single issue has nothing to do with actual issues, policies, and record and deeds, but is merely "Hillary-hatred" or 'fear of a woman president".
I guess that is why most of their attacks seem kinda lame.

[Octafish]

3. One believes in Democracy a lot more than the other.

Secret Government is un-American.

[JonLeibowitz]

4. Yes, it makes voting for her unconscinable

Let's not forget that it isn't just these two votes. She has no respect for constitutional rights:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Source: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

How can we as Americans in good conscience vote to nominate and elect anyone who is unrepentantly defiant of, and opposed to protecting, the bill of rights to the constitution, yet still seeks to take the oath of office of These United States?

vimeo.com/148092658

[noretreatnosurrender]

5. Yes it does

I was already aware of this but I'm glad you posted it in case some here weren't.

[ibegurpard]

7. Pretty hard to hit Hillary for that vote

Since Bernie was virtually alone on it. It's one reason why I admire Bernie so much.

[TheDormouse]

8. Hillary is STILL for the Patriot Act--Bernie is STILL against it

From the Las Vegas debate in October:

Anderson COOPER: Secretary Clinton, do you regret your vote on the Patriot Act?

CLINTON: No, I don't. I think that it was necessary to make sure that we were able after 9/11 to put in place the security that we needed. And it is true that it did require that there be a process. What happened, however, is that the Bush administration began to chip away at that process. And I began to speak out about their use of warrantless surveillance and the other behavior that they engaged in.

We always have to keep the balance of civil liberties, privacy and security. It's not easy in a democracy, but we have to keep it in mind.

COOPER: Senator — Senator Sanders, you're the only one on this stage who voted against the Patriot Act in 2001... [applause]

SANDERS: It was 99 to one and I was maybe the one. I don't know.

COOPER: ... and the reauthorization votes. Let me ask you, if elected, would you shut down the NSA surveillance program?

SANDERS: I'm sorry?

COOPER: Would you shut down the NSA surveillance program?

SANDERS: Absolutely. Of course.

COOPER: You would, point blank.

SANDERS: Well, I would shut down — make — I'd shut down what exists right now is that virtually every telephone call in this country ends up in a file at the NSA. That is unacceptable to me. But it's not just government surveillance. I think the government is involved in our e-mails; is involved in our websites. Corporate America is doing it as well.

If we are a free country, we have the right to be free. Yes, we have to defend ourselves against terrorism, but there are ways to do that without impinging on our constitutional rights and our privacy rights.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=110903

[TheDormouse]

9. Hillary once admitted she was wrong on Patriot Act?

Found the following in a discussion forum.
Anyone know if it is legitimate? (You never know what you will find online--anybody could just make up anything, of course.)

Clinton allegedly said this during a get-out-the-vote speech in Racine, Wisconsin on February 15, 2004:

Everyone knows that I hate to admit I was wrong on anything, but the reality is when I voted for the PATRIOT act, I was wrong. Your Senator Russ Feingold, was right to think that this would be abused. And the fact is it's been abused worse than he, or any other Senator or Congressman could have predicted, which is why at this moment I am calling for the resignation of Attorney General John Ashcroft and Solicitor General Theodore Olson, two individuals responsible for assisting in the crafting of the PATRIOT act, and in putting politics ahead of sound, reasonable law at the Justice Department.

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=189978.525

[Betty Karlson]

10. No, I already knew Sanders was good.

And ever since praising Nancy the gay-hater and her subsequent two - attempted - apologies, Clinton can't lose any more of my esteem, since I have none left for her.